Polish folk music was collected in the 19th century by Oskar Kolberg, as part of a wave of Polish national revival. With the coming of the world wars and then the Communist state, folk traditions were oppressed or subsumed into state-approved folk ensembles. The most famous of the state ensembles are Mazowsze and Śląsk, both of which still perform. Though these bands had a regional touch to their output, the overall sound was a homogenized mixture of Polish styles. There were more authentic state-supported groups, such as Słowianki, but the Communist sanitized image of folk music made the whole field seem unhip to young audiences, and many traditions dwindled rapidly.

Polish dance music, especially the mazurka and polonaise, were popularized by Frederick Chopin, and they soon spread across Europe and elsewhere. These are triple time dances, while five-beat forms are more common in the northeast and duple-time dances like the krakowiak come from the south. The polonaise comes from the French word for Polish to identify its origin among the Polish aristocracy, who had adapted the dance from a slower walking dance called chodzony. The polonaise then re-entered the scene and became an integral part of Polish music.

Poland's five national dances

(Mazur, Polonez, Kujawiak, Krakowiak, Oberek), as well as modern dance, contemporary dance and ballet are all widely performed today throughout the Polonia community.

Dreamy Fish Waltz

C

I had a dream last night

G

That you were there with me

That we were two small fish

C

Down in the deep bllue sea,

But things are just the same

​ G

We never are alone

The other fish were there

​ C

No place to call our own

C G

Wszystkie rybki śpią w jeziorze, ciuralla, ciurallala.

FC

Moja stara spać nie może, ciuralla, ciurallala.

G

Ej, ty stary nie kręć gitary, ciuralla, ciurallala.

C

Nie zawracaj kątrawary, ciuralla, ciurallala.

We're two fish down in the sea

Way down where the water is cold

Oh I wish oh golly gee

That we'd be alone you and me

I would steal a little kiss

And you'd be my sweet blushing bride

We'd go swimming through the water

In Dear and out with the tide

Pytała się pani, (Popular version)

Pytała się pani,

pewnego doktora,

Czy lepiej dać z rana?

Czy lepiej z wieczora?

Oj dobrze z wieczora,

by dobrze się spało.

A z rana poprawić,

by się pamiętało.

Wszystkie rybki śpią w jeziorze,

ciuralla, ciurallala.

Moja stara spać nie może,

ciuralla, ciurallala.

Ej, ty stary nie kręć gitary,

ciuralla, ciurallala.

Nie zawracaj kątrawary,

ciuralla, ciurallala.

Pytała się pani, (1938 version)

Sławnego doktora,

Kiedy ma całować?

Z rana czy zwieczora?

Zwieczora jest dobrze,

by się lepiej spało.

A z rana poprawić,

by się pamiętało.

Wszystkie rybki śpią we wodzie

Blum, blum, ...

Moja pani spać nie może,

Mróm, mróm, ...

Ej, ty stary nie kręć gitary,

Bróm, brom....

Nie zawracaj kątramary,

Mrum, mrum,..

NOTE: "Pytała się pani" is not a traditional Polish folk tune, but it's a wonderful tune and a fun waltz worth learning!